Directoire

Directoire

See also: directoire

English

Alternative forms

• directoire

Etymology

From French directoire.

Proper noun

Directoire

1. (historical) The ruling executive of revolutionary France, from 1795-1799, or the period governed by this body.

Adjective

Directoire (comparative more Directoire, superlative most Directoire)

1. Pertaining to a style of dress common during this period, characterised by extravagant, Classically-inspired designs.
   • 1956, Ursula Bloom, Victorian Vinaigrette:

     My great-grandmother wore a brief empire bodice, and close-fitting Directoire skirt made of cream silk with a golden stripe running through it.

   • 2009, Sarah Mower, The Guardian, 30 Aug 2009:

     Leafing through them now, I notice how orderly the early ones are: drawings of boxy Jasper Conran Chanel-esque jackets and gauzy Galliano directoire dresses, annotations on how "Patsy Kensit showed her bum!" at a Westwood show [...].

2. Pertaining to a style of furniture, decoration etc. prevalent during this period.
   • 1964, "The New Elegants", Time, 4 Dec 1964:

     They prefer concerts and auctions to canasta and golf, are likely to spend the time their mothers relegated to ladies' luncheons to tracking down a Directoire commode for the foyer, just the right bronze for the living-room mantle.

   • 1976, Saul Bellow, Humboldt's Gift, New York: Avon, →ISBN, page 243:

     The only change was in his hair which he was now wearing in the Directoire style, the points coming down over his forehead.

Anagrams

• cordierite